Laptop Legal‘s “Class Action Thought for the Day” looks to West’s “Headnote of the Day” as food for thought for those considering the expansion of class actions in Europe and the former Soviet Union:

Purpose of a class action is to simplify the resolution of complex litigation, not complicate it.

Ah, if only West headnotes represented real life, I would have more time to blog. As it stands, however, there is rarely anything simple in class action litigation. For those who live in countries that have not yet adopted a U.S.-style class action model, the choice may be between overly complex litigation or nothing. But, reformers looking for simplicity may be wise to consider the nothing option.